[gusty]

Your first observation is right on, however for your second, consider the possibility the perp had no intention in paying off his credit card debt. His simple plan was to stiff the credit card company. If someone was planning on no future, imagine how much they could purchase with a credit card.

[IMR 4350]

Good point about the funding, but the body armor indicates this was thought out by more than just a deranged killer.

He wouldn't need body armor for a theater full of unarmed people, he would need it for a shootout with police to get into the theater.

I don't see that forethought as the thinking of one person.

[zeugma]

Your first observation is right on, however for your second, consider the possibility the perp had no intention in paying off his credit card debt. His simple plan was to stiff the credit card company. If someone was planning on no future, imagine how much they could purchase with a credit card.

Consider the computational power put in place in the major credit card's anti-fraud software. If you think this wouldn't set of major bells and whistles to FedGov you haven't been paying attention.